PRAYER + PRAISE
Being Faithful to the End
- Adam Cole // August 12, 2009
12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; 13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end. —Hebrews 3:12-14
The third chapter of Hebrews focuses on faith, more so on enduring faith, the kind of faith that calls us to hold onto God throughout our life on this earth. Chapter 3 begins by explaining the faith of Jesus Christ, who did God’s servant work, as Moses did, but took it a step further, by being the Son of the House, of which God built the house; we become part of that house, the brick and mortar, once we commit our faith to Christ firm to the end.
The author of Hebrews cautions that this faith is not as easy as ones thinks, because of the example of the Jews in the wilderness. Citing words that are spoken by the Holy Spirit, quoted from Psalm 95: 7-11, we see the falling away process that takes place in the heirs of Abraham, for they “hardened their hearts, as in rebellion.” The final verse of that particular psalm suggests the end result of those that go astray in the heart: “They shall not enter my rest.”
Such was the case with the early Hebrew people, who were led out of Egypt and into the wilderness, then sort of second guessed God and His promises; in the moment of what should have been victory, the people believed the spies’ reports and became too afraid to enter what was said to be a land of giants (what was actually the promised land). Instead of entering the promised land—God’s rest—they were forced to continue to wander in the desert until their death; it was only a new generation, through a renewed faith, that the promised land was seized.
Those that understand the way of Christ, understand also that going astray is not only when we don’t completely find faith in the Lord, but also when we move toward sin.
The above Scripture thus encourages us not to have both an evil heart of unbelief and not be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
God has a promised land for each of us, a spiritual rest awaiting, each day when we turn to Him, and eternally in heaven. But we must be partakers of Christ, to die on the cross with Him daily, to put away sin and turn to righteousness—to the end.
Praise: That God allows us to enter into His rest as long as we remain faithful and partake of Christ.
Prayer: That we do not let sin harden our hearts.
Prayer for Today: Lord, we thank You for the house you’ve built, the way you’ve carefully constructed each of us to become part of that house, to dwell in You as You dwell in us. But we know there is only one way to remain there, to remain in You, by abiding in Your Son, Jesus Christ. We pray that we keep Him close, keep our confidence in Him, for the duration of our lives, to the end, so that we may meet You in the end, in heaven. It is this we pray ever-so humbly, in Jesus’ Mighty Name, Amen.